Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-11-19
A London Riot.


FOUR THOUSAND POLICEMEN DIsPERsE
A MOB OF SOCIALISTS IN TRAFALGAR
soUARE-Two HUNDRED CITIZENS AND
FORTY POLICEMEN INJURED.
LONDON, Nov. l3.-The proclama-
ton of Sir Charles Warren the head
of the London police, forbidding the
holding of meeting in Trafalgar
square, to-day was printed throug-
out London last night. At s O'Clock
this morning Trafalgar square pre-
scented an animated appearance, ow-
ing to the continual arrival of bod
les of police, small drafts having
been made from every district in the
metropolis. Three hundred grena-
diers were stationed in the barracks
in the rear of the national gallery.
The police to the number of 1900
formed hollow square four deep on
the southern side for the purpose of
protecting Trafalgar square. Two
thousand five hundred more were
held in reserve. There were double
patrols in all the debouching streets.
In the meantime vehicle traffic was
small and the Sunday foot travel
continued as usual except that no
lettering was permitted. Until |
o'clock there were no signs of n pro-
cession At that hour groups, mainly
of sightseers or roughs, began TO as
semble in the vicinity of the square,
but a squad of mounted police kept
traffic moving and dispersed each
group as it formed. During tais
time there were many exciting in.
cidents. AS the crowd thickened
the police were compelled to use
their batons. BY 3 o'clock there
was an immense eoncourse of people
packed on the steps of st. Martins
church and Norley's hotel and on
the roofs of houses in the adjacent
streets. The remainder were loafers
OF the worst classes Several ar
rests were made about this time.
A RIOT TAKES PLACE.
The scene in Trafalgar Square to-
day has not been equalled since
1866, when people asserting the
right of public meeting destroyed
the railways around Hyde Park.
Four thousand policemen took pos
session of the approaches to Trafal
gar Square at an early hour. They
had been on the ground but a short
time " hen various Socialists, Radi
Gals, and Irish approached the
Square from every direction. The
paraders were headed by bands of
music and they carried banners and
mottos. The police attacked and
dispersed each group MS it arrived
near the square. Fierce fights took
place on the Stand, Northumberland
avenue, Whitehall, Pail Mall and
other adjacent streets. One of the
societies succeeded in entering the
square, but was repulsed after a
bloody fight in which Commoner
Graham was seriously injured. Ora
ham was subsequently arrested Sor
attacking the police. At 4:30 p. N.
the crowd in the vicinity Of the
square numbered 100000 and the
police were powerless to thoroughly
disperse them. Cavalry and inian-
try were summoned to the assistance
of the police, but no charge was
made, as the people of their own ac-
cord began to dispersc at dusk.
About 200 citizens and 40 police
men were injured. Fifty persons
were arrested, among them being So
cialist Burns. Some of the injured
were well enough to leave the hospi-
tai after treatment. One patient
was dreadfully burned with vitrol
sqnirted with a syringe. Another
declares he Was bayonetted. Two
policemen were stabbed with knives.
1t was noticeable that the crowd,
while hooting the police cheercd the
cavalry and infantry which was
ready for action in case the crowd |
broke the police line. Ii the crowd
had succeeded in breaking the line,
it is believed the riot act would have |
been read and the infantry ordered
10 fire